| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Whiteface Mountain (Gilford), Piper Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Whiteface Mountain Trail, bushwhacks, logging roads, Vista Trail, Piper-Whiteface Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
In the turnaround at the end of Belknap Mtn. Rd. in Gilford. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No issues. Noted some new signage at the bottom of Whiteface Mountain Trail, and one of the landowners here has put up a stockade fence alongside the trail right-of-way. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A nice afternoon for a loop over these peaks. This was a variation on a route I'd done before. I took Whiteface Mountain Trail up to the summit of Whiteface, then bushwhacked down into the deep ravine between Whiteface and Piper. There, I hit the logging road that runs up the valley, followed it north a bit, then jumped on another old logging road, which climbs the west side of the Piper ridge. When this began to turn away from my preferred direction, I took to the woods again and angled up the side of the steep ridge, working my way around the south end of it, and then I hit Vista Trail at Piper's south ledges. From there, it was a walk on trails back to the car.
The hiking trails were pretty churned up and frozen into place; Vista Trail and Piper-Whiteface Link were in the roughest condition. Fortunately, there's enough clean snow on either side for more comfortable walking.
Bushwhacking conditions were excellent. The snowpack was rock-solid today and everything was smooth and quick. Woods in the ravine are open and easy. The climb up to Piper's ridge is fairly steep, and there was one very short section where crampons would have been useful. Very little ice encountered and the snow was coarse and grippy, so light traction was fine round-trip. Very cool terrain on that southern end of Piper's ridge -- good views to the south and tons of boulders. |
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 | Name: |
KenM |
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 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-15 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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